Matthew Flinders popularises the name ‘Australia’
The name Australia began to be used to describe the continent following the publishing of Captain Matthew Flinders' A Voyage to Terra Australis.
Sydney City Council holds Australia’s first popular election
The Sydney City Council held Australia's first popular election on 1 November 1842.
Moreton Bay penal settlement
Moreton Bay (Brisbane) was established in 1825 as a penal settlement of the colony of New South Wales.
Henty family settle at Portland Bay
In search of fine grazing land, Edward Henty and his family arrived at Portland Bay on 19 November 1834.
Batman signs a ‘Treaty’ with Aboriginal people
In 1835 free settlers from Tasmania established a new settlement in Port Phillip along the Yarra River.
South Australia established as a convict-free colony
The British Parliament's South Australia Act 1834 established South Australia as a convict-free colony.
Swan River Colony
On 2 May 1829, Admiral Charles Howe Fremantle RN took formal possession of the western coast of New Holland.
New Zealand separates from New South Wales
On 6 February 1840, Captain William Hobson and about forty Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi.
Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm, the ‘Emigrants Friend’, arrived in Sydney in 1838 and became a great leader in social reform.
The First Fleet lands at Sydney Cove
On 20 January, 1788 the last of the 11 ships of the First Fleet commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Botany Bay in New South Wales.